Simple Pendulum

Tasks

  1. Measure the effect of varying mass and release height on a simple pendulum’s oscillation period, if any.
  2. Determine the power-law relationship between a pendulum’s period and length.

Resources

  • string, rod, and clamp
  • mass holder (50 gram) and masses
  • stopwatch (e.g. www.onlinestopwatch.net)
  • ruler and/or meter stick

Background

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Thus, the time it takes for a mass mm hanging from a string of length LL to make a single complete swing (i.e. left to right and back again) is equal to T=2πLgT=2\pi\sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}

Power-Law Fit

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